Hand brake control mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A handbrake control mechanism having a control member slidably mounted in a slideway guide and connected to the brake control cable. The control member has a tubular body with a handgrip and countergrip at one end, several longitudinal slits, a retaining member constituted by a spring biased pawl pivoted on a pivot pin carried by a shuttle inside the tubular body and operatively connected to the countergrip by a rod. The slideway-guide is cylindrical and has a rack formed along one side to coact with the pawl when the brake is set. A brake cable is connected to the shuttle.

United States Patent [1113577598 [72] Inventor Michel Guettier 2,177,45610/ 1939 Irving 74/502 Billancourt, France 2,271,799 2/ 1942 McCarthy74/502 [21] Appl. No. 817,111 2,587,390 2/1952 Schweitzer 74/503X [22]Filed Apr. 17, 1969 2,591,495 4/1952 Baldwin, Jr. et al. 74/538X [45]Patented May 4, 1971 2,598,133 5/1952 Roesch 74/503 [73] Assignees RegieNationale Des Usines Renault 2,607,239 8/ 1952 Weber 74/537 Billancourt,Hauts de Seine, France; 2,635,481 4/1953 DeOrlow 74/503 AutomobilesPeugeot 2,928,292 3/ 1960 Hirst, Jr 74/503 Paris, France P E Ml K f [321Priority Apr. 22, 196s ".m'y xam''e' t0n a ma Assistant Examiner-F. D.Shoemaker [33] France A s D M'u & M h [3 l] 148934 ttorneytevens, avis,l er os er [54] HAND BRAKE CONTROL NIECHANISMS 5 Claims l Drawmg Flg'ABSTRACT: A handbrake control mechanism having a con- [521 Us. Cl'I4/503, trol member mounted in a Slideway guide and con- 74/502 nectedto the brake control cable. The control member has a [51] ht. Cl 605g1/00 tubular body with a handgfip and Countergrip at one end, [50] Field0f Search 74/537, Several longitudinal slits, a retaining memberconstitntgd by a 538, 502, 503 spring biased pawl pivoted on a pivot pincarried by a shuttle inside the tubular body and operatively connectedto the [56] References Cited countergrip by a rod. The slideway-guide iscylindrical and has UNlTED STATES PATENTS a rack formed along one sideto coact with the pawl when the 2,158,323 5/ 1939 Ericson et al 74/503brake is set. A brake cable is connected to the shuttle.

-Patented-v May 4, 1971 I INVENTUR maHsL @asma/ 9mm/Ey;

HAND BRAKE coNTizoL MEciiANisMs The present invention relates in generalto handbrake control mechanisms for automotive vehicles and moreparticularly to a brake control device incorporating a grip levercollapsible in both brake-on and brake-release positions;

Handbrake control mechanisms are already known which comprise twoelements in mutual sliding engagement, having a control or grip leveradapted when pulled to move a pawl against an antagonistic force, saidpawl engaging the teeth of a guide rod or a ratchet member.

The main drawback characterizing these known devices lies in the factthat it is difficult to grip the control lever or handle withoutabnormally leaning forwards and/or sidewise for applying the brake orfully releasing same. This is due to the fact that when the brake isapplied the control lever or grip handle project somewhat into'thepassenger spaceand may under certain circumstances interfere with thelegs of front seat passengers stepping into or out from the vehicle;therefore, this control lever and brake mechanism should be located asremotely as possible within the passenger space.

It is the object of the present invention to provide'a handbrake controlmechanism adapted to avoid the inconvenience set forth hereinabove andwhich is designed more particularly for being installed in the passengerspace within easy reach of the driver's hand so that it can be operatedwith the maximum safety even by a driver retained on his seat by asafety belt. On the other hand, this mechanism is provided with a uniquesafety feature against undesired or untimely brake release.

This handbrake control mechanism comprises a retaining member held inits operative position by a guide member against a release force andcannot be released unless it is relieved beforehand of at least part ofits load by a control member or actuator. The control member or actuatorcoacts with a retaining member which is movable about a pivot pin,against the release force and unidirectionally along a certain distance,and acts against the independent-action return force of a resilientmember.

The control member of the handbrake control mechanism according to thisinvention is advantageously actuatable by means of a handgrip andlcountergrip both collapsible or retractable when the manuai actionexerted thereon is discontinued. The operative or inoperative brakeposition is signalled on the instrument panel of the vehicle by atell-tale lam Ap preferred form of embodiment of the brake controlmechanism according to this invention will now be described withreference to the attached drawing of which the single figure illustratesdiagrammatically in vertical axial section this mechanism in itsoperative condition.

The control member or actuator of the handbrake control mechanismconsists of a lever l having a tubular body along most of its length andprovided at its outer end with a fixed hand grip 2, the brake releasebeing controlled by a countergrip or push member 3 associated therewith.To this end the countergrip 3 is pivoted at 4 to said handgrip andadapted to actuate, by means of a spring blade 5, a rod 6 for unlockinga pawl 7. The rod 6 rigid with one end of said spring blade 5 isreceived in a slot 8 of tubular lever l and its opposite end 9 is bent180, as shown.

The pawl 7 is fulcnimed to a pivot pin l0 carried by a cylindricalshuttle ll in which said pawl is housed, said shuttle ll being adaptedto slide within the tubular control lever l -and along its slot 8. Alongitudinal aperture is provided to permit the passage of said rod 6through Vthe shuttle l1. Furthennore, a suitable spring l2 constantlyurges the operative end of pawl 7 into the cavity formed between twoadjacent teeth 13 of a fixed slideway-guide and rack member I4surrounding said control lever l. A slot l formed in said shuttle ll andanother slot 16 formed in said lever l permit the movement of pawl 7.The shuttle 1l has a frustoconical lower end l7 permitting anchoringtherein the reinforced end 18 of handbrake control cable I9. This cable19. extends through the lower ori- Ai'ice 20 of shuttle l1 and thenalong the interior of the control member I formedwith a tapered lowerend 2l.

A traction spring 22 having one end anchored to the slideway-guidemember I4 and the other end 24 attached to the hand grip 2 constantlyurges the control lever l'to its inoperative position. J

The handbrake control mechanism described hereinabove To apply the handbrake the driver pulls the hand grip handgrip 2. The lever 1 sliding inthe slideway-guide and rack member 14 will thus carry along the shuttle11. This shuttle ll, by freeing the passage hole provided forl anelectric switch 25,'actuates this switch 2S, thus energizing thetell-tale lamp (not shown) on the instrument panel of the vehicle. Whenthe driver feels that the hand brake is properly and sufficientlyapplied, he stops the movement of handgrip 2; thus the spring 12 willpush the pawl 7 against one tooth 13. On releasing the handgrip lever,the latter is urged by traction spring 22 to its inoperative position,and the mechanism is then in the position shown in the drawing.

To release the brake the driver pulls the handgrip 2 until the taperedend 21 of control lever 1 engages the tapered end 17 of shuttle ll. Byactuating the countergrip 3 the pawl is retracted completely as it ismoved by the control rod 6, whereafter it is only necessary to axiallymove the handgrip 2, while keeping the countergrip or push member 3depressed, in order to cause the assembly, pulled by cable 19 and spring22, to resume its inoperative position. As it stops in front of switch25, the pawl 7 actuates this switch so that the tell-tale lamp on theinstrument panel is put out automatically.

l claim:

l. A handbrake control mechanism comprising a hollow side slideway guidemember and a control member slidably received in said slideway guidemember', said control member comprising a tubular body having a handgripand a countergrip at one end, several longitudinal slits formed in saidtubular body, a shuttle movably mounted in said tubular body, rod meansoperatively connecting said shuttle to said countergrip through one ofsaid slots, and a retaining member comprising a pivot pin carried bysaid shuttle and a spring biased pawl pivotally mounted on said pivotpin with one end extending through another of said slots; said slidewayguide member having a rack formed along one side to coact with saidpawl; and a brake operating cable connected to said shuttle.

2. A handbrake control mechanism according to claim l further comprisingspring means biasing said countergrip to such position that when saidhandgrip` is pulled to actuate the brake said pawl engages said racktolprevent relative movement between said shuttle and said slidewayguide member and when said countergrip for releasing thebrakes, saidspring means brings said rod means into contact with said pawl todisengage the latter from said rack.

3. A handbrake control mechanism according to claim l i furtherAcomprising a tapered portion formed on the end of said tubular bodyopposite said handgrip, and a corresponding taper formed on one end ofsaid shuttle'.

4. A handbrake control mechanism according to claim vl furthercomprising tension spring means connecting said control member and saidguide member and serving to retract the former member into the lattermember upon release of the handgrip.

5. A handbrake control mechanism according to claim l further comprisingelectric switch means mounted on said rack and adopted to be actuated bymovement of said shuttle and to control energization of a brake signallight.

1. A handbrake control mechanism comprising a hollow side slideway guidemember and a control member slidably received in said slideway guidemember; said control member comprising a tubular body having a handgripand a countergrip at one end, several longitudinal slits formed in saidtubular body, a shuttle movably mounted in said tubular body, rod meansoperatively connecting said shuttle to said countergrip through one ofsaid slots, and a retaining member comprising a pivot pin carried bysaid shuttle and a spring biased pawl pivotally mounted on said pivotpin with one end extending through another of said sLots; said slidewayguide member having a rack formed along one side to coact with saidpawl; and a brake operating cable connected to said shuttle.
 2. Ahandbrake control mechanism according to claim 1 further comprisingspring means biasing said countergrip to such position that when saidhandgrip is pulled to actuate the brake said pawl engages said rack toprevent relative movement between said shuttle and said slideway guidemember and when said countergrip for releasing the brakes, said springmeans brings said rod means into contact with said pawl to disengage thelatter from said rack.
 3. A handbrake control mechanism according toclaim 1 further comprising a tapered portion formed on the end of saidtubular body opposite said handgrip, and a corresponding taper formed onone end of said shuttle.
 4. A handbrake control mechanism according toclaim 1 further comprising tension spring means connecting said controlmember and said guide member and serving to retract the former memberinto the latter member upon release of the handgrip.
 5. A handbrakecontrol mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising electricswitch means mounted on said rack and adopted to be actuated by movementof said shuttle and to control energization of a brake signal light.